Lemonpalooza raises $1,580 for United Way of Greater Stark County

By LAURIE HUFFMANThe Review Published: October 8, 2012 3:00 AM

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Lemonpalooza raised a total of $1,580.27 through the generosity of the Alliance community on Saturday. The event, which consisted of 10 lemonade stands set up along State Street, was organized by Alliance Ventures, the University of Mount Union Raider Relief and the Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement, and the money will go to the United Way of Greater Stark County annual fundraising campaign, continuing through Nov. 29 with a goal of raising $7.1 million.

"We received feedback last year, during a similar event along Main Street in Alliance, that people would respond better if the donations were for local use," explained Alicia Switzer, who was in charge of the local Lemonpalooza event for Radar Relief, a student-driven humanitarian group with about 15 core members. "United Way came up with the Lemonpalooza idea, and we wanted to do something in the community. They approached us because they basically needed an army of volunteers, and we have that. We specialize in what we like to call 'getting the boots on the ground,' and getting things done, and we really enjoyed doing something that hit home," said Switzer.

Core Raider Relief members were able to get help from the community to bring the number of Lemonpalooza volunteers to about 120. Switzer indicated the volunteers were aided during setup by Phillip Mastroianni, the United Way campaign co-chair for the Eastern Division with his father, Gerard Mastroianni, both of Alliance. She said the Mastroiannis also helped lock locations down, many of which were at businesses owned by clients who rent space from Alliance Ventures, owned by the Mastroiannis. "This was really a group effort between a lot of people," Switzer said. "AVI food service group from Mount Union also helped by giving us free cups, ice, water and jugs, and United Way paid for the lemonade.

Sarah Hayden, of United Way of Greater Stark County, reported shortly after the event began that all the locations were up and running smoothly and the weather was gorgeous. "We're thrilled," she added.

"I worked with Cassie Ausperk, of United Way, and with Phillip (Mastroianni) to get the event up and running, and we couldn't have done it without all the help we received from so many others," said Switzter.

Mackenzie Shivers, Brad Fiorucci, Joe Parker and Brittney Watson, of Raider Relief, were selling cups of sunshine in front of Walgreens on Saturday, and within about an hour their donation jar was two thirds full. The four said it was too chilly for a lot of people to want to buy the $1 glasses of lemonade, so they just gave monetary donations, which was fine with the young Raider Relief squad. Parker said a number of people joked by telling them they should really be selling hot chocolate, because even though the sun was shining, there was a cool breeze whipping up and down State Street. "But, it's fun, and it's been a rewarding experience," Shivers concluded.